We are planning to go on a Spring Break trip during early April - and it should be exciting. The problem is where to go and when? So I am trying to plan it out - first I am thinking we travel to the Olympic National Forest and then travelling down the Washington/Oregon coast... but I am rather mystified as to what to do afterwards. We went down the Oregon coast for our summer trip last year and it was fun. I am sure there are more things to do on the Oregon coast that we haven't done yet. Any suggestions?
I did watch the movie 'Who Killed The Electric Car?' and it was very interesting. I would reccommend it for watching to anybody. It is a little harsh on consumers, I believe, because most consumers didn't know the car was available. Most of my readers wouldn't know as it was only available in CA during the late 90s or early 00s. The sad thing is that they had leased all the cars and didn't allow the consumers to keep them. Watch the documentary, it has been on Discovery recently.
Since the purpose of a blog is to be open, I am letting you all know that in the next month I am going to get off my anti-depressant, which has been used as an anti-anxiety in my case, so I'd appriciate all your prayers as I hope not to have a complete resurgant of regular panic attacks. And perhaps I will be attending more Yoga... :-)
Posted by 10lees at March 2, 2008 05:40 PMgood luck to you, and yes, you are in my prayers! i think having a vacation planned is the best thing you could do right now. ;o) hooray for not working!!
go see the roses in portland when they bloom! when do they bloom? i have no green thumb. it's not even slightly dirty. its very very flesh-toned (and slightly dry as the weather has been freaktastic).
Posted by: dr gonzo at March 3, 2008 08:04 AMOh please go to the rain forest as I missed that when I was there. I was so excited and then we just ran out of time. I'm just saying they might like the rain forest.
Posted by: b at March 4, 2008 08:16 AMThat's great - now you know there are great places along the Oregon coast - I would suggest you see ALL the lighthouses and take tours if possible. Now also there's the Myrtle wood factory - and I think that's about central coast and inland a bit. I don't know if I went there with you two or not? And even going inland a tad to check out this or that. Now there's a website called explore Oregon - here's the link: www.iloveoregon.com and I signed up for an email alert on Oregon - I don't know if it comes from these people or not. I will look for it. :)
Posted by: bevy at March 4, 2008 09:34 AMYes we thought the rain forest / olympic penesula would be fun and nice. i thought you and betsy and ohn did go over there? weren't you staying in Port Angeles or something? That's pretty close to the Olympic National Forest... relatively close anyway.
the roses bloom in portland in may/june. it is a big deal and scott has been to see it before. i am hoping to go down this year or next!
Posted by: 10lees at March 4, 2008 09:38 AMWe'll be praying for you smenster! You can do it! Like I tell my wife. "Just stop worrying about it." And then I usually get punched in the face, cause us guys just don't understand. (And I don't say that sarcastically, cause we really don't get it.)
I love ya, and you'll be in our prayers.
-r diggity
Posted by: Roland at March 4, 2008 08:13 PMYeah we went to the Olympic Peninsula but not to the rain forest because you wanted to go out to dinner or something and so we didn't have enough time to go all the way around the peninsula. And the rain forest is on the other side. Which really sucked cause I've always wanted to go to a rain forest.
Posted by: b at March 4, 2008 09:59 PMAh, you should've told me you had more important things to do! :-)
R, I can see why your wife would want to punch you in the face. I must admit my husband is that way too... :-)
mom, we've been to a lot of the lighthouses, but Ryan does love them, so maybe we'll stop by a few more on our trip!
Posted by: 10lees at March 5, 2008 08:40 AMThe only real problem I had with 'Who Killed the Electric Car' was it never explained how electric cars still do cause pollution-- they're just the ultimate NIMBY.
I'd like to see how, outside of a nuclear option, they would be able to power all of the cars: without increasing pollution; without causing more power plants to be built; without the fact that it would cause more brown-outs.
Otherwise, they are nice and quiet.
Oh, and stay healthy too.
Posted by: Sweet Sounds of Martin Sheen at March 6, 2008 01:07 PMYou are in my thoughts and prayers.
I know nothing about the Oregon coast, but I hope you enjoy your trip!
Posted by: Lo at March 6, 2008 07:58 PMto SSMS (or h.) - It's true that with 'Who killed the electric car' you aren't ceasing emissions from power plants. however, if the US took a more liberal policy towards it's nuclear waste (ie enriching used uranium into plutonium) we wouldn't have as much waste left over as we even currently do. Every other country enriches uranium and the terrorist are more likely to get their hands on Russian plutonium than US plutonium. Although, my support of clean nuclear power is another article altogether.
Thanks Lo! Maybe after my trip I will post lots of pictures... we can only hope!
Posted by: 10lees at March 7, 2008 08:10 AMactually that was my beef with that doc too. they totally gloss over the issue that when you switch from gas to electricity that you go from oil to coal, which is arguably a dirtier pollutant. i agree, 10, that there are ways to "clean that up" but i dont see any forward movement, politically, in that direction.
i've paid close attention to this issue for a while, and i really do think that the most viable option for americans is the hybrid vehicle. of course, the hybrid technology needs to continue to improve gas mileage... i just cant see our economy giving up oil as a resource anytime soon. but if we manage our resources in efficient, effective ways, i think we can really make a positive name for ourselves again.
i dunno... i see this particular issue as an opportunity for the USA to save face without sacrificing too much. lord knows we wont be sacrificing much, but we sure as hell need to save face.
Posted by: dr gonzo at March 7, 2008 08:36 AMcoal is more of a midwest/east coast electrical source - here in the west we use alot more water/turbine power and there's even talk of tidal action power. Did you know that the Canadians wanted to harness the tidal/wave action under the Tacoma Narrows bridge rebuild - FOR FREE they wuold put the turbines into the water and then take the electricity up under the water to Canada. FOR FREE!! Did our gov't either feds or State let them - NO!! We have NUTS running this place!!
10 I almost invested in some nuclear power plants after your Dad's death - but I didn't have alot of peace putting my money where it was unsecured - GOOD THING too as it went down the tubes ... :)
How you doing?
Love, M
One thing interesting about the hybrids is that the NICKEL (I believe) that they use in the batteries takes a lot of pollutants to create. Everything is weighed and balanced - and to a large extent found wanting.
Arguably coal is cleaner burning that oil, or visa-versa. They have managed to do a lot to clean up coal burning in the last decade. It's true that in the west we have a more varied source of energy, perhaps because there are more liberal policy makers.
Nuclear power was killed (in the US) largely because of Three Mile Island incident. France has continued their nuclear program and they have over 60 power plants. Think about the amount of pollution they are saving us! Granted, there still needs to be a viable solution for nuclear waste.
I did hear about the tidal power sourcing. It sounds like a great idea and I hope it's something we start using.
Posted by: 10lees at March 7, 2008 01:25 PMdude.... did you just compliment france? iiinteresting... ;o)
Posted by: dr gonzo at March 8, 2008 04:07 PMWell - SHE is partly FRENCH! :) So that's how it GOES!
Did you plant any pansies today - or bulbs or bleeding hearts? ;)
I called you... ;) Love, Mom